The sixth election to the Carmarthenshire County Council was held in March 1904.[1] It was preceded by the 1901 election and followed by the 1907 election.
The Liberals retained a strong majority with a majority of members returned unopposed.[2] From the outset the election was dominated by the debate over the implementation of the 1902 Education Act, which was fiercely opposed by the radical wing of the Welsh Liberal Party.
The election was fought on more explicitly political lines, largely as a result of the way the education question dominated the election. Following the nominations, the Liberals already had a majority due to the number of candidates returned unopposed.[3] These included all eight candidates in the Llanelli Urban area, including Joseph Roberts, who was returned unopposed, with the support of the local Trades and Labour Council, for the division previously represented by the veteran tinplate leader, Tom Phillips, who retired due to ill health.[3][n 1]
Two sitting members, Col. J.W. Gwynne Hughes of Tregib, chairman of the council and his kinsman, Colonel Gwynne Hughes of Glancothy, stood as Unionists due to the education question.
Only six of those elected at the first election, and who had served continuously since then, sought re-election. None of the retiring aldermen stood as candidates.
There were a number of changes. At Laugharne, J.D. Morse, the member since 1889, was defeated by a Conservative while the Liberals captured seats from the Conservatives at Carmarthen, Llandovery and St Clears. Colonel Gwynne Huighes of Glancothy was defeated by a Liberal at Llanegwad.
The Liberals took all nine of the vacant aldermanic seats, with both J.S. Tregoining and Sir James Hills-Johnes receiving small numbers of votes.
In addition to the 51 councillors the council consisted of 17 county aldermen. Aldermen were elected by the council, and served a six-year term. Following the elections the following nine aldermen were elected (with the number of votes recorded in each case).
The following retiring aldermen were re-elected:
John Williams, retiring alderman (47)
John Lewis, retiring alderman (45)
D.L. Jones, retiring alderman (42)
R.W. Stephens, retiring alderman (48)
John Rees, retiring alderman (42)
Rev William Davies, retiring alderman (42)
In addition, two new aldermen were elected:
W.N. Jones, elected member for Betws (46)
Thomas Jones, elected member for Llanelli Ward 7 (42)
Rev Thomas Johns, elected member for Llanelli Ward 4 (42
Four retiring aldermen were not re-elected:
J.S. Tregoning, Iscoed, Conservative
Rev. W. Thomas, Whitland, Liberal
David Evans, Llangennech, Liberal
James Hill-Johnes, Dolaucothy, Conservative
All the elected aldermen were supported by the majority of members.[4]
A by-election was held on 23 April due to the elevation of W.N. Jones to the aldermanic bench. The Rev. Towyn Jones, Garnant, consented to stand after two public meetings at Ammanford and in Cwmamman and was expected to be returned unopposed. However, he was opposed by David John Jones, an Ammanford ironmonger and a prominent Congregationalist, who refused to withdraw. After a contest between two Liberals which involved the local MP, Abel Thomas, Towyn Jones was elected by a relatively comfortable majority.[5]
